Lacson to Kris: Let Noynoy decide if he wants a first lady

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Saturday told television show host Kris Aquino-Yap to let her brother Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III, the Liberal Party’s presidential prospect, decide whether to get married or not. “Ang decision ay kay Noynoy din kasi 49 (na) siya, 'di naman 19. Pwede naman si Noynoy mag-decide noon (Noynoy has the final decision. He is already 49, not 19. He can very well decide on that matter)," Lacson said. He likewise defended Noynoy’s girlfriend, Valenzuela City councilor Shalani Soledad, from Kris' alleged remarks against her. Soledad was once a member of his Senate staff. Lacson said Kris should refrain from announcing on national television that she does not like Soledad as Noynoy’s would-be wife and first lady. “With all due respect, pwede mong sarilihin ‘yan. Huwag mong i-announce sa TV na ayaw mo ang hihipagin mo (With all due respect, you can keep that to yourself. Don’t announce on TV that you don’t like your would-be sister-in-law)," he said. Kris, Noynoy’s youngest sister, has repeatedly requested his brother to stay single. Last Wednesday, Kris said on her television show that she would give her full support to Noynoy’s presidential bid only if the senator remains single. When Noynoy and TV personality Korina Sanchez were lovers, the outspoken Kris had in the past publicly expressed her approval of Korina as her would-be sister-in-law. Korina is currently engaged to Sen. Manuel “Mar" Roxas II, who last week announced that he was stepping aside as LP standard bearer in the 2010 presidential elections to give way to Noynoy. A clamor for Noynoy to seek the presidency started during the wake of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, who died on August 1 due to cardiorespiratory arrest. After Roxas’ announcement, Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio followed suit and threw his support behind Noynoy. LP stalwarts also approved of Noynoy as their standard bearer. Noynoy has said he was going on “spiritual retreat" to decide whether to accept the offer. He said it was a decision that could not be made overnight considering the enormous responsibility that comes with the presidency. Lacson, who finds Noynoy a worthy presidential aspirant, said Soledad is also worthy to be a first lady. He said Soledad had sought his advice about Noynoy. “Ang (sabi) ko sa kanya siguraduhin mo lang (na hindi ka) lolokohin ni Noynoy, na talagang mahal ka (I tell her to make sure that Noynoy would not fool around with you and that he genuinely loves you)," he said. Lacson had also earlier expressed readiness to run for president but dropped his plan last June, citing lack of funds. He, however, said that he is open to run for vice president, adding that at least two presidential aspirants had already talked to him about it. - Andreo C. Calonzo, GMANews.TV